After the 2015 Summer Budget, the end to £30,000 tax free employment terminations appears to have moved a step a closer. Previously, all non-contractual termination payments up to £30,000 had been exempt from taxation. Yet after recommendations from the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) that now looks set to end. What changes will be made…

In recent weeks the proposed plans to scrap the Human Rights Act has continued to gain increased attention. Although last weekâ??s Queenâ??s speech stopped short of announcing a legislative plan, there are government plans for reform. The Human Rights Act gives effect to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) by providing that, so far…

The vulnerability of many workers on zero-hours contracts has been highlighted by a recent sexual harassment claim brought to an employment tribunal. A worker who was employed on a zero-hours contract was awarded £19,500 after she feared reporting allegations of sexual harassment by her line manager in case she lost work as a result. Despite…

New shared parental leave regulations are set to offer new parents more flexibility in how leave is taken. The new regulations will apply to babies due on or after 5th April 2015 (or children who have been matched for adoption or placed for adoption on or after this date). It is important to get up…

A common question we receive from employers is whether they have a legal requirement to provide an outgoing employee with a reference. We would always advise employers to take care when providing a reference or rejecting a request for a reference. What does the law say? There is no legal requirement for an employer to…